Career Enhancement and Related Activities A major strategic initiative for UPMC Hillman Cancer Center (HCC) is to develop a well-trained, diverse biomedical workforce through research education, training, and career-development activities that promote the understanding of the biology and treatment of cancer. To this end, the HCC Committee for Excellence in Cancer Education and Training (CECET) meets 4 times a year to review the breadth, depth, accessibility, and effectiveness of available education and training opportunities and to develop new programs as needed. CECET overseas an HCC investment of ~$1.4M/year in education and training. Our work is organized through three main specific aims designed to provide career enhancement opportunities across the biomedical training pipeline.
The first aim i s to educate and inspire high school and undergraduate students about careers in cancer research with a focus on serving underrepresented populations. The Hillman Academy has provided an 8-week summer internship introducing careers in cancer research to 433 high school students, including 175 (40%) underrepresented minority and disadvantaged (URM/DA) in our catchment area (CA). The Academy is supported by the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation, CURE and the Jack Kent Foundation, and the award of a new R25CA236620 allows an immediate 70% increase in the number of URM/DA students. This new R25CA236620 also provides support to improve the science literacy of our surrounding community by developing 1-day workshops that include hands-on activities, tours of facilities, and career seminars on cancer research.
Our second aim i s to encourage medical and doctoral students as well as clinical and postdoctoral fellows to pursue careers in cancer research. We have used HCC philanthropy to recruit the first class of Hillman Medical Student and Postdoctoral Fellows for Innovative Cancer Research. We have increased the number of NCI T32 training grants from 4 to 6 to support the cancer research focus of all CCSG programs. Our commitment to graduate student researcher (GSR) education is evidenced by our support of more GSRs than any other Pitt SOM Institute or Department. At the request of the newly formed HCC postdoctoral association, we have established a new grant writing class that tailors K99 R00 applications to the NCI. This initiative builds on previous F30, F31, F99 K00 and K00 R01 successes. We will extend our Hillman Fellows for Innovative Cancer Research program into a new ?Bridge to Faculty? positions that will guarantee faculty positions when key metrics are attained.
Our third aim i s to enhance the professional growth of faculty through an extensive, multi-faceted faculty mentorship program that eliminates barriers to innovative cancer research and strengthens R01 applications to the NCI. We will also increase efforts across our network to ensure equal access of our health care providers to exceptional cancer education and training programs, such as Accountability for Cancer Care through Undoing Racism and Equity and AP-POWER (R25CA148050).
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